Originally posted: 09/10/2019

“Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,” (1:78).

I am undone… when I read those word, “Because of the tender mercy of our God…” Why? Why does He love us so? As though His mercy was not enough, it is His Tender Mercy.

This word, tender, in the Greek, literally refers to the intestines or bowels. Figuratively it indicates the seat of emotions and passions, and carries the idea of experiencing and feeling great affection and compassion.

How great is His love for us, His Tender Mercy. I can’t get past it, and I can’t understand why He is so deeply moved; but I am so deeply grateful.

Consider His Tender Mercy

• His Tender Mercy ensured His people would know the exact truth.
  • it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; ⁴ so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught, (1:3-4).

• His Tender Mercy sovereignly orchestrated events.
  • Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, ⁹ according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense, (1:8-9).

• His Tender Mercy prepared hearts.
  • “…and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. ¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth… ¹⁶ And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” (1:13-14,16-17).

• His Tender Mercy would send His Son.
  • The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; ³³ and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end,” (1:30-33).

• His Tender Mercy would give the knowledge of salvation.
  • “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
    For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
    ⁷⁷ To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
    By the forgiveness of their sins,” (1:76-77).

• His Tender Mercy would bring His people out of darkness and death.
  • “Because of the tender mercy of our God,
    With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
    ⁷⁹ To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death…” (1:78-79).

• His Tender Mercy would guide His people into His Way of peace.
  • “…To guide our feet into the way of peace,” (1:79).

How do we respond to His Tender Mercy?

Let us meditate on His Tender Mercy as revealed in His Word, that we would be deeply moved to respond in worship and thanksgiving.

• His Tender Mercy gave us His Holy Scripture that we would know the exact truth.
  •  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work, (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

• His Tender Mercy sovereignly orchestrated the events of our lives that we would come to know Him.
  • “I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness,” (Jeremiah 31:3).

• His Tender Mercy prepared our hearts that we would seek Him.
  • “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” (John 16:13).

• His Tender Mercy sent His Son that we would have eternal life in Him.
  • “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).
  • He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32).

• His Tender Mercy brought us to the knowledge of salvation in Christ Jesus.
  • This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself as a ransom for all, (1 Timothy 2:3-6).

• His Tender Mercy rescued us from darkness and death and transferred us to His kingdom.
  • For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, (Colossians 1:13-14).

• His Tender Mercy guide us into His Way of peace.
  • For He Himself is our peace… (Ephesians 2:14).
  • Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 4:6).

Thank You Father for Your Tender Mercy. There are no words to adequately express our gratitude. May we instead express it with our very lives.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship, (Romans 12:1).

Let’s Grow Together!